Vancouver Bars Religious Discrimination in Sale of Goods, Services

July 28, 1960

VANCOUVER (Jul. 27)

The Vancouver City Council has adopted a municipal by-law which bars racial and religious discrimination in the sale of goods or services in the city.

The by-law stipulates that every person holding or required to hold a license to carry on “any trade, business or occupation under the provisions of any by-law” of the city cannot refuse “to sell any goods or furnish any service to a person by reason only of such person’s race, creed or color. ” Penalties on conviction are fines to a maximum of $100 “with or without hard labor” for a period not exceeding two months.

The by-law filled a gap in the prior license law which developed from the fact that there were several types of business in Vancouver, particularly hotels, which were licensed under a Lodging House by-law but not under the general license by-law.